WTB 99-03 Sport Nautique

[Zad]

Hi,
I currently own a '94 Prostar 205 (I know, the dark side) and I am looking to buy a very clean and low hour '99 to '03 Sport Nautique preferably in the NW although I will travel for the right boat. My ideal wish list includes an OEM or ND tower with bimini, OEM ballast, Perfect Pass, cover(s) and a tandem trailer, however not having these is not a deal breaker. I have a young family and the 205 is too small for the fam and friends and I am looking to get into a larger and newer boat.

[Miljack]

Hi,
I currently own a '94 Prostar 205 (I know, the dark side) and I am looking to buy a very clean and low hour '99 to '03 Sport Nautique preferably in the NW although I will travel for the right boat. My ideal wish list includes an OEM or ND tower with bimini, OEM ballast, Perfect Pass, cover(s) and a tandem trailer, however not having these is not a deal breaker. I have a young family and the 205 is too small for the fam and friends and I am looking to get into a larger and newer boat.

Not to dissuade you from your target boat, but the Sport/Air of that era are just *barely* larger inside than your 205. Sport/Air is 21'2" and your current is ~20'6" albeit a little narrower in beam. If you wanted to stick with a DD, the 216 is bigger inside and will still have a decent ski wake (though some prefer the Sports) and will wakeboard ok (you will want extra ballast).
You may try looking for a SV211, they're about the same length, but wider and deeper interiors and V drive configuration. I just spent ALOT more of your money :-), but if you want extra space and room, you'll need to consider that part of your mission criteria...

Good luck on your search

[Bimmerboyz]

What he said ^^^

I was raised on a 94 Prostar 205, My Granpa is still the only owner. Any pictures of yours?

[Zad]

Thanks for the tips, I thought the sport was bigger. Yes, you did spend a bunch more of my money...funning how boats do that. No photos of my '94 and right now I have the floor torn apart replacing the blower hose, bilge and doing some maintenance. It has the blue and "raspberry" colouring (I call it pink but raspberry seems to be the word). I have only been looking at DD's but that sv211 looks very interesting as I prefer to ski but would like the space and option for wake boarding and maybe even mild surfing. Hmmm, interesting.

[Quinner]

Totally disagree with you guys, the sport is much wider and laid out better. Neighbors whom I ski with often have a 94' 205 and a 98' CC Sport and I have also owned a 99' Air/Sport, so know all these models relatively well. I would say my 206 feels roomier then the 205, the 205 is very narrow.

Regarding performance/wakes, Slalom wakes are comparable between the sport and 205 however I would give a slight edge to the sport, the 216 wake will be bigger then your 205 and a 206 wake will be smaller, and SV211 wake is awful. Basically I would rate the slalom wakes best to worst as: 206 - Sport - 205 - 216 - 211. The wakeboard wakes of all the boats (excluding the SV211) are comparable and un-weighted are all more then adequate for the average boarder. No idea about the 211, would imagine it's big wake capabilities are better then most or all straight inboards.

Just and FYI, the Sport/Air was pretty much the same boat 98' thru 02', 99' on had a true walk thru open bow while 98' was more of a playpen. In 03' the 206 and 216 were introduced and 04' was the first year for the SV211.

Good Luck in Your Search

[Miljack]

Totally disagree with you guys, the sport is much wider and laid out better. Neighbors whom I ski with often have a 94' 205 and a 98' CC Sport and I have also owned a 99' Air/Sport, so know all these models relatively well. I would say my 206 feels roomier then the 205, the 205 is very narrow.

Regarding performance/wakes, Slalom wakes are comparable between the sport and 205 however I would give a slight edge to the sport, the 216 wake will be bigger then your 205 and a 206 wake will be smaller, and SV211 wake is awful. Basically I would rate the slalom wakes best to worst as: 206 - Sport - 205 - 216 - 211. The wakeboard wakes of all the boats (excluding the SV211) are comparable and un-weighted are all more then adequate for the average boarder. No idea about the 211, would imagine it's big wake capabilities are better then most or all straight inboards.

Just and FYI, the Sport/Air was pretty much the same boat 98' thru 02', 99' on had a true walk thru open bow while 98' was more of a playpen. In 03' the 206 and 216 were introduced and 04' was the first year for the SV211.

Good Luck in Your Search

Quinner, don't disagree with you re: size comparison, but IMHO going from a 205 (and selling it) and going to a Sport/Air is akin to "upgrading from a SN to a SNOB" yes, there's more room but is it worth the hassle for just the extra room? If the OP is after improved performance/reliability, and an *incremental" bump in space I'd agree with you. If as he posted, he wants more room for a growing family and the friends that will tag along with kids, well then he's got a tougher decision.

[NCH2oSki]

I'm with Quinner on this one. I had a 99' sport, and now have a 206. One of my ski buddies has a 97' 205, and he even comments how much larger my 206 feels. He also likes the ski wake better.

[Zad]

Ok, thanks for chiming in guys. I really like the cabin layout of the v-drive for the family and small children. Let me ask this. What would be the best skiing, open bow, v-drive boat with OEM ballast and at least as much room as my '94 205 (not including the new 200...way out of my price range - ideally under 30K - just can't justify spending more on a boat than my duramax truck).

[5bison]

just out of curiosity does a 205 have a trunk?

[Zad]

The 205 has a ski locker in the floor at the walk through and no trunk.

[NCH2oSki]

Good skiing and V drive don't show up in the same boat often. The sport 200, or malibu VTX, are the only two that I am aware of that ski ALMOST as well as a DD.

[toddrswenson]

I came from a 97 Ski to a 2002 Air Nautique. Just having the tower on the boat to get stuff off of the floor makes a huge difference. I know the V drive is the way to go, but I like to ski and can't afford the 200V. With the trunk, floor locker, and tower I am really pleased with the storage. A lot of people feel that the 98-02 Sport/Air hull skis better than the 03 and up 216. I was hesitant to move out of my 97, but it's been the best decision I've ever made.

[Zad]

Is there a difference between the "air nautique" and the super air nautique 210? I am looking at a local super air (2002) in good shape with all the bells and whistles and the seller is asking $36000, seems way high to me.

[NCH2oSki]

The air nautique is a DD sport with factory tower and ballast, the Super air, is a V drive with all the wakeboard accessories. The sport/air DD version well equipped is going to run < 22K or so. Its really a versatile boat, with plenty of storage.

[toddrswenson]

Is there a difference between the "air nautique" and the super air nautique 210? I am looking at a local super air (2002) in good shape with all the bells and whistles and the seller is asking $36000, seems way high to me.

If you want a good slalom wake don't even look at the Super Air 210. You will find a lot of people that say it is good for recreational skiing, but if you like the wake behind your 205 for skiing you will hate the wake behind the Super Air, but it is a great wake boarding boat. $36,000 for and 02 is high. A little history of the 98-02 Sport/Air, 98-99 old style dash pod and classic gel and graphics, 2000-2001 new dash pod with digital gauges and the big "N" gel coat and graphics, 2002 same dash pod as the 2000-2001 but with updated gel and graphics. The 2002 has its own unique look because it's the only year that it was made that way before that hull was phased out. If no one has mentioned it 2000-2002 had digital teleflex gauges that are prone to failure and more than likely have been replaced with analog gauges. The hour meter is in on the tachometer so if you look at a 00-02 ask about the true hours on the boat. My 02 still has the digital gauges, but I bought it from the selling dealer and they had the service records with the hours. I wanted a 2002 because I hated the "N" gel coat of 00-01, but wanted a more updated interior. It took me a long time to find one.